Sources of Health Insurance
and Characteristics of the Uninsured

Mountain States, 1998

Montana

The percentage of Montana's
nonelderly population (under age 65) without health
insurance coverage in 1998 was 22.0 percent. This was
higher than the national rate of 18.4 percent. Montana's
nonelderly population had a lower rate of
employment-based coverage, 57.2 percent, than the
national rate of 64.9 percent.

Children living in Montana--infants
through age 17--had a lower rate of employment-based
health insurance coverage, 54.5 percent, than the
national rate, 60.2 percent. The uninsured rate for
children in Montana, 19.9 percent, was higher the
national rate, 15.4 percent.

Children living in families with
incomes below the federal poverty level were the most
likely to be uninsured, 30.1 percent, and children in
families with incomes at 200-300 percent the federal
poverty level were least likely to be uninsured, 13.9
percent.

Montana workers had a lower rate of
employment-based health insurance coverage, 62.6 percent,
than the national rate of 72.8 percent. Montana had the
lowest rate of employment-based coverage for workers of
any state. Also, 45.6 percent of Montana workers had
employment-based health insurance coverage in their own
name (meaning they were the primary beneficiaries),
compared with 55.5 percent for the nation.

Larger firms were more likely than
smaller firms to provide coverage: 57.7 percent of
Montana workers in firms with 1,000 or more workers had
coverage in their own name, compared with 21.5 percent of
workers in firms with fewer than 10 employees

Among Montana workers, the most
likely to have employment-based health insurance in their
own name were those in transportation, communications,
and utilities, 73.9 percent, and in government, 71.0
percent. Workers in government had the lowest uninsured
rate in the state, 5.5 percent, followed by
transportation, communications, and utilities workers at
8.2 percent. Workers who were self-employed and
wholesale/retail trade workers had the highest uninsured
rates in the state, 35.1 percent and 34.2 percent,
respectively.

Idaho

The percentage of Idaho's
nonelderly population (under age 65) without health
insurance coverage in 1998 was 19.7 percent. This was
higher than the national rate of 18.4 percent. Idaho's
nonelderly population had a lower rate of
employment-based coverage, 63.9 percent, than the
national rate of 64.9 percent.

Children living in Idaho--infants
through age 17--had a lower rate of employment-based
health insurance coverage, 58.7 percent, than the
national rate, 60.2 percent. The uninsured rate for
children in Idaho, 17.6 per-cent, was also higher the
national rate of 15.4 percent.

Children living in families with
incomes below the federal poverty level were the most
likely to be uninsured, 28.9 percent, and children in
families with incomes at 400 percent or more of the
federal poverty level were least likely to be uninsured,
6.4 percent.

Idaho workers had a lower rate of
employment-based health insurance coverage, 69.3 percent,
than the national rate of 72.8 percent. Also, 52.1
percent of Idaho workers had employment-based health
insurance coverage in their own name (meaning they were
the primary beneficiaries), compared with 55.5 percent
for the nation.

Larger firms were more likely than
smaller firms to provide coverage: 66.4 percent of Idaho
workers in firms with 1,000 or more workers had coverage
in their own name, compared with 22.3 percent of workers
in firms with fewer than 10 employees.

Among Idaho workers, the most
likely to have employment-based health insurance in their
own name were those in manufacturing, 77.3 percent, and
in government, 75.8 percent. Workers in government had
the lowest uninsured rate in the state, 4.3 percent,
followed by those in transportation, communications, and
utilities, 11.7 percent. Workers in agriculture/mining
and those who were self-employed had the highest
uninsured rates in the state at 50.2 percent and 29.2
percent, respectively.

Wyoming

The percentage of Wyoming's
nonelderly population (under age 65) without health
insurance coverage in 1998 was 19.0 percent. This was
higher than the national rate, 18.4 percent. Wyoming's
nonelderly population had a slightly lower rate of
employment-based coverage, 64.6 percent, than the
national rate of 64.9 percent.

Children living in Wyoming--infants
through age 17--had a higher rate of employment-based
health insurance coverage, 63.7 percent, than the
national rate of 60.2 percent. The uninsured rate for
children in Wyoming, 16.4 percent, was above the national
rate, 15.4 percent.

Children living in families with
incomes below the federal poverty level were the most
likely to be uninsured, 32.1 percent, and children in
families with incomes at 400 percent or more of the
federal poverty level were least likely to be uninsured,
7.7 percent.

Wyoming workers had a lower rate of
employment-based health insurance coverage, 67.8 percent,
than the national rate of 72.8 percent. Also, 48.8
percent of Wyoming workers had employment-based health
insurance coverage in their own name (meaning they were
the primary beneficiaries), compared with 55.5 percent
for the nation.

Larger firms were more likely than
smaller firms to provide coverage: 64.2 percent of
Wyoming workers in firms with 1,000 or more workers had
coverage in their own name, compared with 22.1 percent of
workers in firms with fewer than 10 employees.

Among Wyoming workers, the most
likely to have employment-based health insurance in their
own name were those in transportation, communications,
and utilities, 86.1 percent, and in manufacturing, 74.7
percent. Government workers had the lowest uninsured rate
in the state, 8.7 percent, followed by workers in
transportation, communications, and utilities at 10.6
percent. The highest uninsured rates in the state were
among workers in wholesale/retail trade, 29.6 percent,
and in construction, 29.1 percent.

Colorado

The percentage of Colorado's
nonelderly population (under age 65) without health
insurance coverage in 1998 was 16.5 percent. This was
lower than the national rate of 18.3 percent. Colorado's
nonelderly population also had a higher rate of
employment-based coverage, 71.3 per-cent, than the
national rate of 64.9 percent.

Children living in
Colorado--infants through age 17--had a higher rate of
employment-based health insurance coverage, 69.8 percent,
than the national rate, 60.2 percent. The uninsured rate
for children in Colorado, 12.5 percent, was lower than
the national rate, 15.4 percent.

Children living in families with
incomes below the federal poverty level were the most
likely to be uninsured, 35.2 percent, and children in
families with incomes of 100-149 percent of the federal
poverty level were least likely to be uninsured, 4.8
percent.

Colorado workers had a higher rate
of employment-based health insurance coverage, 76.0
percent, than the national rate of 72.8 percent. Also,
59.8 percent of Colorado workers had employment-based
health insurance coverage in their own name (meaning they
were the primary beneficiaries), compared with 55.5
percent for the nation.

Larger firms were more likely than
smaller firms to provide coverage: 69.6 percent of
Colorado workers in firms with 1,000 or more workers had
coverage in their own name, compared with 31.1 percent of
those in firms with fewer than 10 employees.

Among Colorado workers, the most
likely to have employment-based health insurance coverage
in their own name were those in government, 79.4 percent,
and in manufacturing, 78.0 percent. Government workers
had the lowest uninsured rate in the state, 4.5 percent,
followed by workers in transportation, communications,
and utilities, 6.5 percent. Workers in construction and
those who were self-employed had the highest uninsured
rates in the state at 32.5 percent and 27.8 percent,
respectively.

New Mexico

The percentage of New Mexico's
nonelderly population (under age 65) without health
insurance coverage in 1998 was 24.0 percent. This was
higher than the national rate of 18.4 percent. New
Mexico's nonelderly population also had a lower rate of
employment-based coverage, 57.9 percent, than the
national rate, 64.9 percent.

Children living in New
Mexico--infants through age 17--had a lower rate of
employment-based health insurance coverage, 56.6 percent,
than the national rate of 60.2 percent. The uninsured
rate for children in New Mexico, 17.1 percent, was above
the national rate of 15.4 percent.

Children living in families with
incomes below the federal poverty level were the most
likely to be uninsured, 20.6 percent, and children in
families with incomes at 400 percent or more of the
federal poverty level were least likely to be uninsured,
2.4 percent.

New Mexico workers had a lower rate
of employment-based health insurance coverage, 65.5
percent, than the national rate of 72.8 percent. Also,
48.3 percent of New Mexico workers had employment-based
health insurance coverage in their own name (meaning they
were the primary beneficiaries), compared with 55.0
percent for the nation.

Larger firms were more likely than
smaller firms to provide coverage: 67.0 percent of New
Mexico's workers in firms with 1,000 or more workers had
coverage in their own name, compared with 18.7 percent of
workers in firms with fewer than 10 employees.

Among New Mexico workers, the most
likely to have employment-based health insurance coverage
in their own name were those in manufacturing, 69.5
percent, and in finance, insurance, and real estate, 64.8
percent. Workers in manufacturing had the lowest
uninsured rate in the state, 14.6 percent, followed by
those in government, 15.8 percent. Workers in
construction and in agriculture/mining had the highest
uninsured rates in the state, at 43.0 percent and 39.9
percent, respectively.

Arizona

The percentage of Arizona's
nonelderly population (under age 65) without health
insurance coverage in 1998 was 27.2 percent. This was
higher than the national rate of 18.4 percent. Arizona
had the highest uninsured rate of any state. Arizona's
nonelderly population had a lower rate of
employment-based coverage, 56.3 percent, than the
national rate of 64.9 percent. Arizona had the
third-lowest rate of private health insurance coverage;
California and the District of Columbia had lower rates

Children living in Arizona--infants
through age 17--had a lower rate of employment-based
health insurance coverage, 51.5 percent, than the
national rate of 60.2 percent. The uninsured rate for
children in Arizona, 26.3 percent, was above the national
rate, 15.4 percent. Arizona had the highest uninsured
rate for children of any state.

Children living in families with
incomes below the federal poverty level were the most
likely to be uninsured, 41.9 percent, and children in
families with incomes at 400 percent or more of the
federal poverty level were least likely to be uninsured,
6.4 percent.

Arizona workers had a lower rate of
employment-based health insurance coverage, 63.8 percent,
than the national rate of 72.8 percent. Arizona had the
second-lowest rate of employment-based coverage for
workers; Montana had a lower rate. Also, 51.6 percent
Arizona workers had employment-based health insurance
coverage in their own name (meaning they were the primary
beneficiaries), compared with 55.5 percent for the
nation.

Larger firms were more likely than
smaller firms to provide coverage: 66.6 percent of
Arizona workers in firms with 1,000 or more workers had
coverage in their own name, compared with 23.7 percent of
workers in firms with fewer than 10 employees.

Arizona workers most likely to have
employment-based health insurance coverage in their own
name were those in manufacturing, 69.3 percent, and in
government, 68.6 percent. Workers in government had the
lowest uninsured rate in the state, 8.9 percent, followed
by workers in finance, insurance, and real estate at 14.5
per-cent. Workers in agriculture/mining and in
construction had the highest uninsured rates in the
state, at 71.8 percent and 47.8 percent, respectively.

Utah

The percentage of Utah's nonelderly
population (under age 65) without health insurance
coverage in 1998 was 15.1 percent. This was lower than
the national rate of 18.4 percent. Utah's nonelderly
population had a higher rate of employment-based
coverage, 70.3 percent, than the national rate of 64.9
percent.

Children living in Utah--infants
through age 17--had a higher rate of employment-based
health insurance coverage, 67.7 percent, than the
national rate of 60.2 percent. The uninsured rate for
children in Utah, 11.5 percent, was below the national
rate, 15.4 percent.

Children living in families with
incomes just above the federal poverty level were the
most likely to be uninsured, 24.9 percent, and children
in families with incomes at 400 percent or more of the
federal poverty level were least likely to be uninsured,
less than 1 percent.

Utah workers had a higher rate of
employment-based health insurance coverage, 73.9 percent,
than the national rate of 72.8 percent. Also, 49.9
percent of Utah workers had employment-based health
insurance coverage in their own name (meaning they were
the primary beneficiaries), compared with 55.5 percent
for the nation

Larger firms were more likely than
smaller firms to provide coverage: 63.4 percent of Utah
workers in firms with 1,000 or more workers had coverage
in their own name, compared with 23.3 percent of workers
in firms with fewer than 10 employees.

Utah workers most likely to have
employment-based health insurance coverage in their own
name were those in government, 69.7 percent, and in
transportation, communications, and utilities, 66.6
percent. Workers in government had the lowest uninsured
rate in the state, 21.7 percent, followed by workers in
finance, insurance, and real estate, 7.5 percent. Workers
who were self-employed and construction workers had the
highest uninsured rates in the state, at 29.2 percent and
26.7 percent, respectively.

Nevada

The percentage of Nevada's nonelderly
population (under age 65) without health insurance coverage in
1998 was 23.7 percent. This was higher than the national rate of
18.4 percent. Nevada's nonelderly population also had a higher
rate of employment-based coverage, 67.2 percent, than the
national rate of 64.9 percent.

Children living in Nevada--infants
through age 17--had a higher rate of employment-based health
insurance coverage, 65.8 percent, than the national rate of 60.2
percent. The uninsured rate for children in Nevada,
23.1 percent, was above the national rate of 15.4 percent. Nevada
had the third-highest uninsured rate for children; Arizona and
Texas had higher rates.

Children living in families with incomes
below the federal poverty level were the most likely to be
uninsured, 46.8 percent, and children in families with incomes at
400 percent or more of the federal poverty level were least
likely to be uninsured, 12.5 percent.

Nevada workers had a slightly lower rate
of employment-based health insurance coverage, 71.8 percent, than
the national rate of 72.8 percent. Also, 60.1 percent of Nevada
workers had employment-based health insurance coverage in their
own name (meaning they were the primary beneficiaries), compared
with 55.5 percent for the nation.

Larger firms were more likely to than
smaller firms provide coverage: 74.2 percent of Nevada workers in
firms with 1,000 or more workers had coverage in their own name,
compared with 32.8 percent of workers in firms with fewer than 10
employees.

Nevada workers most likely to have
employment-based health insurance coverage in their own name were
those in government, 78.3 percent, and in manufacturing, 73.5
percent. Workers in government had the lowest uninsured in the
state, 6.2 percent, followed by workers in manufacturing, 15.3
percent. Workers in construction had the highest uninsured rate
in the state, 45.2 percent, followed by workers who were
self-employed, 36.4 percent.